Motor-vehicle frame



June 5, 1928.

C. R. SHORT ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE FRAME Filed April 16, 1926 a Qwmmow.

Charla: 245/701: Victor Hay/res w 351 W aa Patented June 5, 1928 vUNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

cHARLEs R. SHORT, or DAYTON, OHIO, AND- VIOTOR'RUGHES, or DETROIT,MICHI- GAN, ASSIGNORS To GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION, OFDETROIT,

MICHIGAN, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MOTOR-VEHICLE FRAME.

Application filed April 16, 1926. Serial No. 102,524.

This invention ,relates particularly to chassis frames for light motorcars.

The object of the invention is to cheapenand strengthen the constructionof light cars, substituting for the floor of the body,

as ordinarily constructed,'a floor of sheet metal preferably integralwith the side sills of the chassis frame.

- The invention consists in the structure and combination of parts morespecifically de scribed hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which I Fig. 1 is a plan view of a chassis frame made inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an elevation of a fragmentviewed from the rear in the direction of the arrows 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The main body of the chassis frame, indicated in the drawings by numeral20, is pressed preferably from one sheet of wrought steel. In the pressoperation, longitudinal sills 21 are struck up, at the sides of thesheet, these sills trending fore and aft at an angle to each other, asis customary in chassis frames where the sills are separate members. Thevertical sides 22 of the sills are preferably perpendicular to and.

' extend above the floor 23 which connects the two sills. The topflanges 24 of the sills extend substantially at right angles to thesides 22 and the edges of the to flanges 24 are preferably turncddownwarslightly as at 25. The outer edges of top flanges 24 of the sills extendparallel with each other for a short distance at the rear of the frameas at 24: adjacent to which the rear wheels would be located on acompleted car.

Also formed in the press operation. there is, as indicated at 26,running longitudinally 23, an embossed ridge 26 convex above and concavebeneath. Along the center of this embossed ridge, on the underside, thepropeller shaft would extend in the completed vehicle. This embossedportion 26 assists in strengthening the floor longitudinally.

- Forward of the embossed ridge 26, a member 27 i t uck p from t e l e tm tal t of the frame mid-way of the floor portion foot board terminatesat the forward edge in a lip 28 which is offset from but substantiallyparallel with the body of said foot board. JIhrough the foot board 27the steering post would be extended in the completed vehicle.

Forward of the foot board are two winglike members or aprons 29 and 30,pressed downward from the frame as shown to provide accommodation forthe engine and associated parts and to close the space between thecnginp base and the sills. The wings or aprons'29 and 30 are formed byshearing the sheet longitudinally from the transverse edge of theopening from which the foot board 27 is struck up to the front'end ofthe blank. A piece may be sheared out, if necesminimize the transmissionof vibrations from one to the other. The aprons may be formed in a presswith small expenditure of power because they are bent to shape and donot have to be drawn. I

Rearward of the floor part 23 the metal has been removed so as to allowthe side sill port-ions to project to the rear leaving an open spacebetween them. In order to stifi'en the frame near its rear end just overthe points at which the rear springs would be attached to the sills, aninverted U-shaped cross beam 32 may be riveted or welded at oppositeends to the sides 22 of the sills. Said U-shaped beam has laterallyextending flanges which may be riveted or spot welded as indicated at 33to the floor 23; it is arched and fitted snugly over the embossed part26. The ends of the beam may have flanges turned laterally from itssidelimbs as indicated at 34, through which, and the side walls 22 .Ofthe sills, as shown, rivets may be passed. Tongues left by the turningaway of the flanges 34 may be riveted or spot welded as at 35 to theupper surface 24 cured, said brackets serving as seats for the springs.These brackets may be riveted to the sills by rivets which secure theends of. the beam 32.

Forward of the floor board are shown two engine supporting cross members37 and 38. These may be of any suitable form. They are shown as channelshapes bowed downward, having their extremities riveted to therespective sills 21. Just forward of the en-- gine cross support 37 onthe exterior of the ressed to the desired form from a sheet of steelwithout the expenditure of great power for the reason that the shapingis effected mainly by slitting and by bending each part to be shaped inparallel planes with the single exception of the fore and aft embossedportion 26 where the draft is light.

Although we have shown and described a particular embodiment of ourinvention in order to comply with the statute, it is to be understoodthat we do not intend to be limited to the specific construction shown,but

definitions of the appended floor joining said side sills, saidfloorhaving a longitudinal embossed portion transversely convexed-aboveand concaved beneath, said embossed portion stopping short of one end ofsaid floor and serving to stiffen the latter.

3. A wrought metal chassis frame motor vehiclescomprising side sills anda floorjoining said side sills, said floor having a struck up' footboard extending transversely near its forward end.

4. A one-piece wrought metal chassis for frame for motor vehiclescomprising side sills and a fioor'joining said side sills, the sillsextending both rearward and forward of the floor.

5. A Wrought metal chassis frame for motor vehicles comprising sidesills and a floor joining said side sills, the sills extending forwardof the floor, and aprons integral with the forward extensions of thesills extending obliquely downward. between them to bridge the space notoccupied by the engine.

In testimony whereof weaflix our signatures. y

CHARLES R. SHORT.

VICTOR HUGHES. i

